Auger-Aliassime, Shapovalov win opening doubles match at Indian Wells
Fellow Canadian Fernandez, American Townsend advance in women's doubles
Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov defeated American Ben Shelton and Denmark's Holger Rune 6-1, 6-3 in men's doubles opening-round play on Thursday at the Indian Wells Masters tournament in Indian Wells, Calif.
Although committing five double faults to one ace, the Canadians won 88 per cent of first-serve points and converted on four of 10 break point chances.
They also saved all five of their opponents' break point opportunities.
In the second, the Danish and American duo found some momentum taking a 3-2 lead. However, the Canadians swiftly answered back.
Auger-Aliassime and Shapovalov broke in the seventh and ninth games, while winning four straight to seal the victory.
The Canadian duo will face Great Britain's Cameron Norrie and Austria's Lucas Miedler in the round of 16 on Sunday.
On the women's side, Canada's Leylah Fernandez and American Taylor Townsend advanced to the second round with a 6-4, 7-6 (5) win over Latisha Chan and Chan Hao-Ching of Chinese Taipei.
Fernandez and Townsend hit a combined four aces to four double faults and won 78.6 per cent of first-serve points.
They also broke on two of nine opportunities compared to their opponents, who went one of six.
Tay-lah prevail in their team debut 👏<a href="https://twitter.com/leylahfernandez?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@leylahfernandez</a>/<a href="https://twitter.com/TaylorTownsend?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TaylorTownsend</a> defeat Chan/Chan 6-4, 7-6(5) and are the first doubles team to advance in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TennisParadise?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TennisParadise</a>! <a href="https://t.co/x0geVAWIZO">pic.twitter.com/x0geVAWIZO</a>
—@WTACanada's Marino ousted in opening round
In women's singles action, Canada's Rebecca Marino fell 6-2, 6-2 to Czechia's Marketa Vondrousova in opening-round play.
The Vancouver native hit two aces but had six double faults, while only winning 60.6 per cent of first-serve points.
In addition, Marino did not have a single break point opportunity in the one-hour, 10-minute match.
Vondrousova, meanwhile, fired four aces to four double faults and won 86.2 per cent of first-serve points. She also converted on four of her eight break point chances.
WATCH | Marino eliminated by Vondrousova in opening round at Indian Wells:
With files from CBC Sports
